The major exception this time around is that for the first time in some five years, I don't have the Miami Heat winning a division and coasting into the NBA Finals once again. While the loss of LeBron will certainly be devastating, the Heat should still be able to hang around in the one division in the East that has a little bit of doubt. But the debate in the East essentially boils down to which one of the two teams in the Central you like more: the Bulls or the Cavs.
The West remains an absolute freak show of talent, with some 10 teams having a realistic shot at making the playoffs. I had a hard time deciding which one of last year's teams I wouldn't pick to make it again this year.
It's still somewhat amazing for me to see the Spurs as such predominant favorites in most of the picks I've seen thus far, not because I don't think they're not talented and able to repeat but more because I've grown so used to them being dismissed as "too old" year in, year out. Still, I know we're bound to get (at least) one major injury that screws everyone's picks and possibly eliminates a very popular title favorite.
All of that said, I'll still take a stab at how I see every team finishing and which one will be hoisting the Larry O'Brien next June.
And please forgive me for the spacing and font size issues as I'm posting this while
I'm
on
my
lunch
break.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
Cleveland Cavaliers
Chicago Bulls
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast
Washington Wizards
Miami Heat
Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Hornets
Orlando Magic
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Northwest
Oklahoma City Thunder
Portland Trail Blazers
Denver Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves
Utah Jazz
Los Angeles Clippers
Golden State Warriors
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings
Los Angeles Lakers
San Antonio Spurs
Dallas Mavericks
Houston Rockets
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Pelicans
#1 Cavaliers over #8 Hornets in 5 games
#2 Bulls over #7 Knicks in 5 games
#6 Hawks over #3 Raptors in 7 games
#4 Wizards over #5 Heat in 6 games
#1 Thunder over #8 Suns in 4 games
#2 Clippers over #7 Rockets in 6 games
#3 Spurs over #6 Trail Blazers in 7 games
#4 Warriors over #5 Mavericks in 7 games
#1 Cavaliers over #4 Wizards in 6 games
#2 Bulls over #6 Hawks in 6 games
#1 Thunder over #4 Warriors in 7 games
#2 Clippers over #3 Spurs in 7 games
#1 Cavaliers over #2 Bulls in 6 games
#2 Clippers over #1 Thunder in 6 games
Los Angeles Clippers over Cleveland Cavaliers in 6 games
As I said, a lot of my playoff picks bear a very close resemblance to what I had last year. Obviously I'm going with a different champion, one team that I thought I'd be unique for picking after seeing most predictions until I saw three of four experts over at CBS with the exact same outcome. Still, I think the Clippers are the team that was most discouraged by their early exit last year and will be motivated to finish the job this season.
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